Nissan 300ZX: Spotted

A twin-turbo blast from the recent past...

Nissan's 300ZX is the oft overlooked and frequently maligned Japanese sports coupe of the 1990s. Spare a thought for it, though; not only did it have to live in the shadow of its big brother, the R32 GT-R, but it had to go toe-to-toe with JDM rivals like the Mazda RX-7 and Toyota Supra as well.

It entered into a fiercely competitive market, then, necessitating the need to make a stronger-than-usual case for itself in order to convince potential buyers it was worthy of their hard earned cash. So, what did it offer? Well, in this guise, its opening gambit was a twin-turbo V6 putting out 300hp - the same as a Ferrari 348 - and 283lb ft of torque. It had a five-speed manual 'box too, and a lot of tech for the time. A technologically advanced Nissan that takes on Ferraris for a fraction of the price... who'd have thought it?

It wasn't just good on paper though. Contemporary reviews stated that the 300ZX felt "crisp and secure" in corners, thanks to its multi-link suspension setup and HICAS four-wheel steering. So good was it, in fact, that in a 1991 MotorTrend handling test, the 300ZX Turbo came second out of 10 competitors, finishing behind only the Honda NSX and besting the Mazda MX-5, Toyota MR2 and Porsche 944 among others.

So despite being frequently overlooked among a remarkable field - more of which than is normal went on to attain legendary status - the 300ZX probably deserves more consideration than it is given. When viewed in isolation, it was an excellent car for its day.

But what about now? Well, while GT-R and Supra prices climb ever skywards, the 300ZX represents increasingly good value for money.

Whether today's Spotted falls into that category is up to you to decide, but with just 47,000 miles on the clock it seems to be in very good condition indeed. The leather interior looks good as new, as do the paintwork and wheels. The clean, once-futuristic looks have always appealed to these eyes too, and a targa top will never go out of style. It'll likely take quite an enthusiastic... enthusiast to part with the best part of £15,000, but whoever does will be left with one of the picks of a halcyon era in Japanese car design.

SPECIFICATION - NISSAN 300ZX

Engine: 2,960cc, twin-turbocharged V6
Transmission: 5-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 304@6,400rpm
Torque (lb ft): 283@3,600rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
First registered: 1992
Recorded mileage: 47,000 miles
Price new: N/A
Yours for: £14,950